Google Maps for Android Adds Public Transit Features, Includes Bus and Train Schedules

Google is intent to increase the popularity of Google Maps for Android after Apple decided to drop support for its mapping service on future iOS devices, starting with iOS 6. The software giant has added more detailed public transit information for Android devices.

Now available for download from the Google Play Store, Google Maps 6.10.0 gives Android users a quicker method to search for information on public transportation, which includes train, bus, tram and subway schedules from more than 500 cities worldwide. It includes highly urbanized metropolitan areas such as London, New York, Sydney and Tokyo.

“Today we’re releasing an update to the Google Maps for Android app (version 6.10) which makes this transit information even more useful. We’ve made some changes to the Transit Lines layer, so that you can select a specific mode of public transportation (train, bus, tram or subway) to display on the mobile map, hiding the other modes. This is helpful in areas where there is a tight concentration of several types of public transit,” said Christopher Van Der Westhuizen, software engineer for Google Maps, in a blog post.

The update allows users to filter routes of local public transit to show either bus or train routes individually, rather than a combination of both.

In addition, it now includes departure information at bus, train and underground stations, and the distance to nearby stations for quicker planning of routes to unfamiliar territory or foreign locations.

After tapping a particular station name in Google Maps for Android, departure times, lines serving the station and distance to nearby stations pop up on another page and can be used to create a plotted trip.

Van Der Westhuizen said Google developed the feature particularly for large cities since it is “helpful in areas where there is a tight concentration of several types of public transit”.

Version 6.10 also comes with a new ‘My Places’ feature that allows accessing stored maps and planned routes from previous travels, while ‘Location History’ also allows users to browse locations they visit on a daily basis, but it must be left enabled thru options.

“Whether you’re looking for schedule and fare information, directions by public transit or nearby stations, Google Maps puts comprehensive, accurate and useful transit information at your fingertips. Update to the latest version of Google Maps for Android in the Google Play store,” Van Der Westhuizen added.

The updated Google Maps will definitely have an advantage over Apple’s upcoming iOS 6 if widespread reports that it will not come with public transport features is true.